Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/211

Rh Then like our dads o' auld lang syne,

Let social glee unite us a',

Aye blythe to meet, our mou's to weet,

But aye as sweirt to gang awa'.

[—Tune, "Andro and his cutty gun."—Strathbungo is a small hamlet about a little south of Glasgow.]

, blythe could I be wi' her,

Happy baith at morn and e'en,

To my breast I'd warmly press her,

Charming maid, Strathbungo Jean.

The Glasgow lasses dress fu' braw,

And country girls gang neat and clean,

But nane o' them's a match ava

To my sweet maid, Strathbungo Jean.

Though they be dress'd in rich attire,

In silk brocade and mus-de-laine,

Wi' busk and pad and satin stays,

They'll never ding Strathbungo Jean.

Bedeck'd in striped gown and coat,

Silk handkerchief and apron clean,

Cheerfully tripping to her work,

Ilk day I meet Strathbungo Jean.

Ye gods who rule men's destinies,

I humbly pray you'll me befrien',

And aid me in my dearest wish

To gain my sweet Strathbungo Jean.

Gi'e to the ambitious priest a kirk,

Gi'e riches to the miser mean,

Let the coquette new conquests make,

But, O! gi'e me Strathbungo Jean!

No happiness all day have I,

My senses are bewilder'd clean,

In bed all night on her I cry,

My heav'n on earth, Strathbungo Jean.

Should fortune kindly make her mine,

I would not change for Britain's queen;

But fondly in my arms I'd clasp

My charming maid, Strathbungo Jean.

[ highly popular song first appeared in "The Harp of Kenfrewshire," a collection of songs published at Paisley in two small rolumes, about the year 1820. In the Index to that work, "John Sim" is the name given as the author of the song. Mr. Sim furnished a number of original pieces for the Harp of Renfrewshire, and indeed had a considerable hand in getting up the work, but before its completion, he left Paisley for the West Indies, where he died soon after his arrival. Meanwhile, the song rose into repute, when, surgeon, Glasgow, stepped forward and declared himself to be the author. In support of his claim, he stated, that he was in the habit of corresponding with Mr. Sim during the publication of the Harp of Renfrewshire—that he sent him the song of Kelvin Grove, with another song, to be published anonymously in that work—that Mr. Sim having transcribed them both, they were found among his papers after his departure, and naturally enough supposed to be his own. So satisfactorily did Mr. Lyle establish his claim, that Mr. Purdie, music-seller, Edinburgh, was induced to become the purchaser of the copyright from him, although he had previously bargained for the copyright with Mr. Sim's executors for a few pounds.—Kelvin Grove, a picturesque and richly wooded dell through which the river Kelvin flows, lies at a very short distance to the north-west of Glasgow, and will in all probability soon be comprehended within the wide-spreading boundaries of the city itself. At one part of it (North Woodside) is an old well, called the Pear-Tree-Well, from a pear-tree which formerly grew over it. This used to be, and still is to some extent, a favourite place of resort for young parties from the city on summer afternoons. The tune of Kelvin Grove, or "Bonnie lassie, O," was originally arranged with an accompaniment for the piano-forte by R. A. Smith, and subsequently by Mr. Braham. We give here the author's own version of the song, from a small collection of Ballads and Songs, original and selected, published by himself in 1827. It differs somewhat from the copy in "The Harp of Renfrewshire," which has only six stanzas.]

us haste to Kelvin grove, bonnie lassie, O,

Through its mazes let us rove, bonnie lassie, O,

Where the rose in all her pride.

Paints the hollow dingle side,

Where the midnight fairies glide, bonnie lassie, O,